One NBA analyst suggested that the San Antonio Spurs should consider acquiring Devin Booker from the Phoenix Suns this offseason.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed a blockbuster trade between the Spurs and Suns:
**The trade proposal:** The San Antonio Spurs would send Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, Zach Collins, Blake Wesley, the No. 4 pick, the No. 8 pick, a 2025 first-round pick (via ATL), and a 2027 first-round pick (via ATL) to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Devin Booker.
The Suns won 49 games this season but were swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. Conversely, the Spurs only managed 22 wins.
“The specifics of the players and picks going to the Suns almost don’t matter because the Spurs have so much more to offer,” Buckley wrote. “If Booker was truly available, only Victor Wembanyama might be off-limits. Including Devin Vassell in the trade could complicate things or reduce the additional assets required.”
“Value-wise, this feels close to what Booker is worth, especially to the Spurs. They need a primary creator to pair with Wembanyama, and Booker is one of the best. He just completed his fourth season with at least 25 points, five assists, and two three-pointers per game. Only eight players in history have matched or exceeded that feat.”
“A Booker-Wembanyama duo would be a formidable pairing, creating the foundation of a potential contender for years to come. The Spurs likely have little chance at Booker this summer, but it’s worth making some calls to explore the possibility before moving on to other options.”
Booker is set to make $49.4 million next season after signing a four-year, $221 million extension with the Suns in July 2022.
One of the NBA’s top scorers, Booker averaged 27.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists this season, with shooting percentages of 49.2% from the field, 36.4% from three, and 88.6% from the free-throw line. He turns 28 in October and has career averages of 24.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. He famously scored 70 points against the Boston Celtics during the 2016-17 season.
The Suns recently fired Frank Vogel after one season and hired Mike Budenholzer. They face a challenging offseason with $209 million in salary—the highest payroll in the NBA—and a projected luxury tax penalty of $116 million.
Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama had an outstanding rookie season for the Spurs, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.6 blocks, shooting 46.5% overall, 32.5% from three, and 79.6% from the foul line. The 20-year-old led the NBA in blocks and blocks per game, earning the Rookie of the Year Award.
